Conservation and Sustainable Use of Medicinal Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid Ecosystems of Egypt

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Conservation and Sustainable Use of Medicinal
Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid Ecosystems of Egypt
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Saint Katherine Protectorate

• In 1996, SKP declared as full protected area ,
  4350 km² World Heritage Site by UNESCO
• Unique combination of natural resources,
  especially high altitude ecosystems with diverse
  fauna and flora.

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SKP Globally Significant Endemic MAP Species

• 472 plant species
• 44 of the total endemic plant species of Egypt
• 14 GSMAPs
• Long history of Bedouin traditional use of MAP
  resources

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SKP Globally Significant MAP Species

• Unique Eco-geographic settings
• Climatic conditions
• Habitat Micro habitat Diversity

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Threats facing MAPs Conservation
1- Feral Donkeys (invasive species) 2-
Destructive Harvesting Techniques 3- Over
harvesting 4- Tourists Intrusions 5-
Overgrazing 6- Collection for Scientific
Research 7- Urbanization and Settlements In
addition to Climate Change and drought cycles.
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Project Overall Objective Outcomes
The main Objective of the project is the
Conservation and sustainable use of globally
significant medicinal plant biodiversity in SKP
Which will be achieved through the
reorganisation and rationalisation of the
Projects interventions to achieve 5
Outcomes Outcome 1 Conservation management
of SKP MAP resources strengthened Outcome 2 MAP
products market value chain strengthened and
sustained Outcome 3 Pressure on target
resources reduced by alternatives Outcome 4 MAP
conservation and management enabling environment
strengthened Outcome 5 Learning, evaluation,
and adaptive management increased
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Outcome 1 Conservation management of SKP MAP
resources strengthened

• CBNRM (Community Based Natural Resources
  Management)
• Rehabilitation Restoration Program
• Living Collection Gene Bank
• Communication, Education, Participation
  Awareness

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Community Based Natural Resources Management
CBNRM

• Community-based natural resource management
  (CBNRM) is a systemic approach to conservation
  that allows those closest to the resource, and
  who bear the costs of conservation, to manage the
  resource and benefit from its management and use

Scenario planning
Women liaison points
CBNRM Negotiations with community in SK
Building trust with Bedouin women MAP collectors
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Rehabilitation Restoration Program
Rehabilitation sites selection
MAPs rehabilitated in the selected sites
MAP rehabilitation sites monitoring
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Living Collection Gene Bank
MAPs living collection
MAPs seedlings
Preservation of MAPs seeds
MAPs greenhouses
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Educating the Future Community of Saint Katherine
Environmental Awareness and Education Program
(EAEP)
Indicators 8 green schools 545 participants at
competitions 20 schools involved in EAEP 100
children participated at summer activities Almost
1000 visitors to the greenhouses per annum

1. The Green School Program
2. Biodiversity Education Activities
3. Drawings From the Environment Program
4. Environmental Awareness Activities Campaigns

Biodiversity Education
The green school program
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Educating the Future Community of Saint Katherine
Environmental Awareness and Education Program
(EAEP)
Field studies Biodiversity education activities
International tourists visitors to MPCP
greenhouses
Drawings from the environment program
Competition and Rewards
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Outcome 2 Developing and strengthening Saint
Katherine Medicinal Plants Value Chain

• The goal of adapting a value chain approach for
  natural resource management is to motivate the
  business community to think globally and act
  locally with respect to biodiversity and
  sustainable development aspects.

• Why value chain approach
• Improve Quality
• Increase Efficiency
• Differentiate Products
• Identify and develop strategic partnerships
  necessary for the initiatives growth
• Improving access to markets

• Identify economies of scale ensuring a more
  efficient product flow
• Ensuring that all actors in the chain benefit
• Meet the requirements for certification and
  national or international standards
• Achieve sustainable use, fair-trade and benefit
  sharing principles

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Strengthening the Value Chain
Saint Katherine's Medicinal Aromatic Plants
Value Chain
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Developing SKP MAP Value Chain

1. Identifying SKP MAP Value Chain Partners
2. Bringing Whole System in Room for First Time
3. Building Relationships
4. Establishing Common Goals
5. Establishing SKP MAP value Chain Action Plan
6. Selecting a Steering Committee
7. Initiating Agreements and Contracts

Bringing Whole System in Room
Initiating Agreements
Building relationships
Establishing common goals and action plan
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Strengthening the Value Chain

1. Sustainable plant sourcing
2. Improving the Enabling environment
3. Improve quality
4. Vertical horizontal linkages cooperation
5. Improve communications and awareness
6. Improve market access

Sustainable plant sourcing
Quality control
Improve market access
Capacity building
Apply international standard
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Traditional handicrafts support and product
development
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Outcome 3Pressure on target resources reduced by
use of alternatives
Revenue generation
Butane cookers
Social and economic development
The pharmacy
Bee hives for Honey Production
Fodder Distribution Outlet
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Outcome 4 MAP conservation and management
enabling environment strengthened
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Outcome 5 Learning, evaluation, and adaptive
management increased
MAP database Digital Herbarium
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Outcome 5 Learning, evaluation, and adaptive
management increased
MPCP website
GIS and MAPs distribution analysis
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Social and economic benefits of the MPCP

• Local community economic development i.e.
  microfinance schemes (more than 100 loans),
  products development, market access improvement,
  value chain development, eco-tourism related
  activities support, CBNRM
• Revenue generation and business opportunists i.e.
  bee hives projects, packaging labeling of
  medicinal plants, medicinal plants cultivation,
  traditional crafts support
• Generation of direct and indirect job
  opportunities (108 direct job opportunity)
• Social services i.e. establishment of a pharmacy
  (serving more than 2500 local citizens), butane
  cookers, fuel wood
• Social development i.e. establishment of 2 NGOs,
  gender equality
• Cultural support i.e. herbalists school support
  (15 young herbalists), ABS law
• Direct and indirect contribution to local and
  national economy through project expenditures
• Education and awareness activities i.e.
  biodiversity education, green school program,
  summer activities, art classrooms

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MPCP relevance to GEF Biodiversity Strategic
Long-term Objectives Strategic Programs for
GEF
Strategic Long-term Objectives Strategic Programs for GEF-4 MPCP Relevance
1 To catalyze sustainability of protected area (PA) systems Sustainable financing of PA systems at the national level Increasing representation of effectively managed marine PA areas in PA systems Strengthening terrestrial PA networks ? ?
2 To mainstream biodiversity in production landscapes/seascapes and sectors 4. Strengthening the policy and regulatory framework for mainstreaming biodiversity ?
2 To mainstream biodiversity in production landscapes/seascapes and sectors 5. Fostering markets for biodiversity goods and services ?
3 To safeguard biodiversity 6. Building capacity for the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
3 To safeguard biodiversity 7. Prevention, control and management of invasive alien species ?
4 To build capacity on access and benefit sharing 8. Building capacity on access and benefit sharing ?
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Project Contribution to the MDGs

• Goal 1 Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Micro Finance
• Production development
• Marketing
• Business opportunities
• Job opportunities

• Goal 3 Promote gender equality and empower women
• CBNRM
• Promote social participation and involvement
• Handicrafts program

• Goal 7 Ensure Environmental Sustainability
• Conservation sustainable use of ecosystem goods
  and services

Gender empowerment
Economic development
Social participation
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Medicinal Plants Conservation Project

• Developing Local ccCommunities

• Conserving Global Biodiversity

• By